The Erie BayHawks coach applauded Harangody for playing four games in as many days with three being for the Canton Charge in the 2012 D-League playoffs.

“I think it’s awesome,” he said. “I think it’s a credit to Luke. The kind of player he is and the kind of professional he is that he was able to do that. That he played at a high level in all four games and helped his team get a win in three of the games including the game he played for the Cavs. The kid deserves so much credit.”

The Cavs recalled the former Notre Dame star up today before Cleveland plays the Philadelphia 76ers tonight at Quicken Loans Arena. In his game with Cleveland, Haranagody had 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 99-89 home win against Washington.

The Cavs had recalled Harangody the second time April 14th and sent him back down the Charge the next day for Game 2 of their best-of-3 series at second-seeded Springfield.

The fifth-seeded Erie BayHawks (28-22) should have their hands full for their best-of-3 D-League playoff series against the third-seeded Austin Toros (33-17) that begins with Thursday’s Game 1 at Tullio Arena.

After Wednesday’s practice, I caught up with Erie coach Jay Larranaga, New York Knicks rookie Jerome Jordan, Kyle Goldcamp and D.J. Kennedy and asked them about this series.

A key matchup will be Jordan against Austin big man Eric Dawson, who is second in the D-League in double-doubles with 23.

Jay Larranaga has led the Erie BayHawks to a second D-League playoff berth in as many seasons. The BayHawks (27-21) will close out the regular season Friday night against expansion Canton (26-22) at home and Saturday night at Canton.

The BayHawks have made the playoffs in three of their four seasons in the D-League. John Treloar was the head coach when Erie reached the playoffs as an expansion franchise in 2008-09.

The common link to all three teams is Ben McDonald has been an assistant. McDonald has been with Erie all four seasons.

With New York Knicks senior vice president Glen Grunwald in attendance, the BayHawks clinched a playoff berth with an 110-108 victory Tuesday night at Tullio Arena.

The Knicks are Erie’s NBA hybrid affiliate.

Erie (27-21) has made the D-League playoffs in three of its four D-League seasons, doing so last season and this season under Jay Larranaga. In 2009 as expansion franchise, Erie made it under John Treloar.

The BayHawks still have a shot at winning the East Conference, which would give then the No. 2 seed in the playoffs and the opportunity to pick their first-round playoff opponent. The BayHawks are a game behind conference leader Dakota (28-20).

Erie needs to win its last two games against Canton (26-21) on Friday at home and Saturday at Canton and have Dakota lose its last two games at Fort Wayne on Friday and Saturday.

At 12-35, the Mad Ants have the D-League’s worst record. Since the Wizards own the tiebreaker against Erie, the BayHawks must finish a game ahead of them to win the conference.

Here’s Erie BayHawks coach Jay Larranaga and guards D.J. Kennedy and Keith McLeod talking about their playoff chances with three games left in the D-League regular season.

Currently holding the seventh spot in the D-League playoff chase, the BayHawks (26-21) play Springfield (27-20) at Tullio Arena tomorrow night at 7 and take on Canton in their final regular-season games. They play the expansion Charge on Friday in their regular-season home finale and Saturday at Canton.

Erie is just a game behind Springfield for the top spot in the East Conference.

With the New York Knicks having their share of injures, particularly to big men Amare Stoudemire and Jared Jeffries, the Erie BayHawks aren’t expecting their NBA hybrid affiliate to send down 7-footer Jerome Jordan for a third time.

“You have to understand as an D-League organization and coaches that the NBA parent club is the most important thing,” Erie coach Jay Larranaga said. “What is best for the Knicks is what will be done. If that means Jerome coming down, then we’ll do that. If that means Jerome being ready to help them, then we’ll do that. It’s out of my hands. Our hands. We’re here to help the Knicks get the most out of their investment in the BayHawks.”

Stoudemire is expected to miss two to four weeks with a back injury and Jeffries will likely be out at least another week with a knee injury.

Jordan averaged 18 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in five games with the BayHawks. Erie went 4-1 with Jordan. A rookie out of Tulsa, Jordan, 25, has averaged 1.5 points in 18 games with the Knicks this season.

The Reno Bighorns combo guard was watching his former team play a game against the defending D-League champs, the Iowa Energy, that was postponed due the floor being deemed as unplayable.

Ahearn had to leave Tullio Arena with his fellow Bighorns to rest up for their game against the BayHawks tonight when Erie lead local investor Owen McCormick offered to take him out to dinner.

“I got to get some rest so I can put up 30 on you,” Ahearn said smiling.

McCormick laughed.

“Got to show you how much I love,” Ahearn said while hugging him.

In his two seasons with Erie, Ahearn became a fan favorite for nailing threes, being automatic from the line and playing carefree. The day after the 2011 D-League Draft, the BayHawks traded him to Reno in a four-player deal that resulted in Erie getting Donald Sloan.

“I was shocked,” he said. “It was literally the last phone call I thought I would get, but it is what it is. Everybody knows that professional sports, stuff is a business. I mean, Peyton Manning. Look at that. That’s a perfect example. One of the best quarterbacks of all time. That’s just the nature of our business. It came as a shock and to me, the hardest part was leaving the relationships that you have. That’s the toughest part, but you make new ones in new places you go.”

Tonight at 7, Sloan and Ahearn, whom were teammates for Team USA in the 2011 Pan American Games, will square off at Tullio Arena.

“I’m ready for that game,” said Sloan on Thursday night.

Ahearn, who leads the D-League in scoring at 24.4 points a game, can’t wait either.